Chapter 4

Niharika stood in front of her full-length mirror, straightening the collar of her light gray blazer. She had opted for a formal look for her second round of interviews with Microsoft—a black pencil skirt, white blouse, and a sleek, tailored blazer. Her brown hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and she wore minimal makeup, just a hint of mascara to brighten her dark eyes and a dash of lip balm. The interview was important, and she needed to look confident and professional.

She glanced at the clock. I can't be late, she thought, grabbing her bag and heading downstairs. Yangeeta was preparing some sweet yogurt for her daughter, as a sign of good luck. Rahil was at the table, finishing his breakfast while scrolling through his phone.

"Ready?" Niharika asked him.

"Yeah, I'll just grab my bag," Rahil muttered, half-absorbed in his phone.

The ride to the Microsoft office was quiet. Niharika's thoughts were focused on the interview. She had felt confident during the first round, but now that the second round was in front of her, the pressure had mounted. This could be it. This could change everything.

Once they reached the building, Niharika took a deep breath. Rahul wished her good luck before driving away and she smiled at the support before walking into the building with a determined step. She followed the signs to the interview room, where she was greeted by the recruiters. They led her into a conference room where the interview would take place. As she waited for her turn, her mind raced with questions and expectations.

But just as she was about to focus, she noticed someone familiar standing near the elevator. It was Mayank. He was wearing a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled up, talking to one of his colleagues. When he saw Niharika approaching, he paused mid-sentence and gave her a surprised look.

"Niharika?" he said, his eyebrows raised in recognition.

She was momentarily thrown off but quickly recovered. "Mayank? I didn't expect to see you here."

He gave a small smile, clearly surprised as well. "Well, I work here. What brings you to Microsoft?"

She shifted her weight awkwardly. "No. I... I mean like I didn't expect to see you in this department. And I'm here for the second round of interviews."

"Ah, I keep roaming around. My work is central. Good luck for your interview!" Mayank said, giving her an encouraging nod.

"Thanks," she replied. She felt a little flustered, not expecting to run into him. It had been years since they'd last spoken, but seeing him again stirred something inside her—a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. She walked past him and into the interview room, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered.

The interview went smoothly, and Niharika felt more at ease than she had anticipated. The questions were tough, but she had prepared for them. She hoped it would be enough to secure the job.

When she finished, she stepped out of the interview room and made her way toward the exit. As she passed the elevator again, she spotted Mayank, who had been deep in conversation with a recruiter. Their eyes met for a brief second, and Niharika gave him a small, polite smile before stepping into the elevator.

As she left the building, her phone buzzed with a message from her mom.

"Hey, how did it go? I'm so proud of you!"

Niharika smiled slightly, she quickly typed a response. "It went well, I think! I'm gonna be going to meet Siya and Samar."

At the office, Mayank was finishing up some work when he saw Niharika leaving. He didn't know why, but seeing her again had sparked something within him. He couldn't help but feel curious about how she was doing, but he didn't want to ask her directly. Instead, he turned to the recruiters, eager to learn more about her without drawing attention to himself.

"So, how did the interview go with Niharika Doshi?" Mayank asked casually.

The recruiter looked at him, impressed. "She's great. She's definitely one of our top candidates. We're very interested in her."

Mayank didn't realize it, but he was smiling. "Good to hear," he replied, although he wasn't sure why he was so invested in her outcome.

~•~

Later that evening, Niharika's family got ready for the Datta's to come for dinner.

When Niharika arrived at her house, she saw that Mayank's family was already there. She froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. She hadn't expected to see them so soon—especially Mayank. She didn't expect to see him come at all.

Her mother, noticing her discomfort, greeted everyone warmly. "Nihu! How was your day? Come say hi. Go change and join us."

Niharika nodded, excusing herself and heading upstairs to change into something more comfortable. She returned shortly in a simple yet elegant kurta, her brown eyes still carrying the faint trace of surprise from seeing Mayank. Her parents and Maya's family were seated at the dinner table, engaged in conversation.

As Niharika sat down, there was an almost imperceptible shift in the room. The conversation flowed easily, but there was an underlying tension. Whenever Niharika caught Mayank's eye, there was something there—something unspoken. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but it was also new, awkward, and unfamiliar.

After the meal, her father, Abhijeet, looked at her and said, "Niharika, can you go get the ice cream from the store down stairs?"

Niharika glanced up at him. "Okay Baba."

Madhun stopped her, "Wait." He looked at Mayank, "You go with her."

Mayank nodded, unable to say no. She stood up and followed Mayank out of the house. The walk was brief, and they didn't say much at first. It wasn't uncomfortable, just quiet—an odd sense of familiarity and distance between them.

Once they were at the store, she picked up two flavors as she spoke to the shopkeeper, "I'll have 2 pista and 2 double chocolate, and...." She looked at Mayank to get their choices.

He understood, "2 mango and add one more double chocolate."

The guy packed the stuff and Niharika was about to make the payment when Mayank tapped his card and got the ice creams. She looked at him, "Mayank? Why? I would have done it."

"It's okay. It's only ice creams." He said.

"But we're hosting you. I'll pay you back now." She insisted.

"Niharika, it's fine. Just ice cream. Come." He said and walked outside. She followed him.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Maya and Madhun exchanged a glance before turning to Niharika's parents.

Madhun spoke first. "We don't want to beat around the bush, but we've noticed something between Mayank and Niharika. They seem like a great match."

Maya nodded in agreement. "We've seen how Mayank looks at Niharika, and how she's so calm and composed. She's someone who holds the family together. I know that this is only the second time since we've met—but ideally this is how it works in arranged marriages, don't you think? We think they should get married."

Niharika's parents looked surprised but intrigued. "You know," Yangeeta said thoughtfully, "I've seen the same thing. They both seem like they would complement each other well. Niharika is great but she's very silent and sticks to herself—Mayank can bring out her social side. Plus they're both doing very good for themselves."

Abhijeet smiled softly. "Let's see what the stars have to say."

So, Yangeeta called the pandit, and the four of them gathered around the phone, discussing their children's horoscopes.

"Their stars are aligning. Niharika's chart and Mayank's chart are like two pieces of the puzzle. They complete each other. If you are looking towards something. Go for it." The pandit confirmed what they all hoped—Niharika and Mayank's horoscopes were a match in every sense. The families exchanged excited smiles.

When Niharika and Mayank returned, they were greeted by the unusually happy atmosphere in the room. The conversation felt warmer than before, and both of them noticed the shift.

"Why are you two so happy?" Mayank asked, confused.

Madhun smiled at him. "We need to talk to you both."

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